BT Sport has won exclusive rights to broadcast the MotoGP World Championship in a five-year deal starting from the 2014 season.

The agreement with promoter Dorna Sports will see MotoGP programming at the forefront of a quality line-up of top domestic and international sports on the new BT Sport channels, but means the championship loses free-to-air terrestrial coverage.

BT outbid strong competition from the BBC, the current rights holders, and pay-TV rivals Sky Sports.

The world’s greatest riders return to the grid this weekend for the opening race of the 2013 MotoGP season under the stunning floodlights at the Losail International Circuit for the Qatar Grand Prix (April 4-7).

With seven-time champion Valentino Rossi returning to Yamaha and fierce Spanish rivals Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa going head-to-head, it promises to be the most competitive season in recent years.

BBC Sport and British Eurosport will have all the action from each of the 18 Grands Prix covered throughout the 2013 season.